‘National Party of Texas’ Returns to Schulenburg This Weekend
As July winds down, all of Schulenburg gears up for the annual Schulenburg Festival, also known as the “National Party of Texas,” a full weekend of events with something for everyone. This year’s Festival starts Thursday July 30 and ends Sunday August 2. Activities include continuous live music, rodeo, cookoffs, carnival, parade, arts & crafts vendors, cornhole, kiddie parade, tricycle races, softball, basketball, fun run, golf, cow chip and egg toss, class reunions, and more.
Kate Watson is headlining Friday night’s lineup. Watson is a rising Texas-born country-rock and countrypop singer-songwriter based out of Conroe, who first gained widespread national recognition as a contestant on American Idol in 2019. Known for her high-energy, authentic stage presence and powerhouse vocals, she has quickly established herself as a notable name within the Texas country music circuit. Watson has toured extensively, opening for and sharing stages with top artists including Diamond Rio, Pat Green, Joe Nichols, Kevin Fowler, and Flatland Cavalry.
LC Rocks will also perform on Friday night. Known as Texas’ Premier 80s Tribute Band, they will authentically deliver decades of beloved rock and roll hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. “We had a great showing last year with a tribute band, so we thought that we’d do it again this year – this time with a group that will cover songs from multiple artists. Now that music is digital and easily accessible, people of all ages are familiar with these classics from the past,” says Festival Entertainment Director Michael Zweschper.
Friday’s opening act will be Texas Sundown, playing a variety of country music (Texas, 90s and Top 40).
Gates open at 6 p.m. on Friday evening. Saturday night features another full lineup of great music. Saturday night’s headliner is Casey Donahew.
For more than two decades, Donahew has been a driving force in Texas country music, earning 30 No. 1 singles on the Texas charts and building one of the most loyal fan bases in the genre. Known for his authentic storytelling and heartfelt lyrics, Donahew writes many of his own songs, creating music that resonates with fans from all walks of life. Attendees may also recognize his music from hit television series such as Yellowstone and Tulsa King. “We are thrilled to bring Casey Donahew back to our stage. He was our Saturday headliner in 2009, and it’s been great to see how much his following has grown since then” says Zweschper.
Making their Festival debut on Saturday will be Bottomland, with their unmistakable sound. This newly formed duo is made up of Cannon Brand and Justin Lane Gates, who have paid their dues in honky tonks and listening rooms all over Texas. Their collaboration magnifies the talents of both, and Bottomland is getting attention from fans and the music industry.
Book-ending Bottomland and Casey Donahew will be Texas Unlimited Band (TUB), who has been a large part of the Festival party atmosphere for decades. “We call them the ‘Official Band of the National Party of Texas’ for a reason,” according to Advertising Director Nicole Michalke. “It’s hard to express just how good they are at choosing and performing songs to engage a crowd. They keep up with new music but also retain those crowd-favorite classics that appeal to everyone. And apparently people from Canada to Costa Rica believe it too, as they have been playing all over the place in recent years.”
The music kicks off on Saturday afternoon with local favorite The Matt Bonner Band, back by popular demand from last year’s show. This group has deep roots in Schulenburg, and they have collectively attended many a Festival. They have opened for various acts, but also hold their own at local events, playing familiar country hits to keep a crowd entertained. Following them will be The Barditch Hippies, a group from the Luling area focusing on country-Americana-red dirt style music.
Music continues Sunday after the parade. Getting the party started will be Mark Halata and Texavia, a Czech polka band with a country music flair, just the right mix for a Sunday afternoon in our part of Texas. Up next will be Original Remnants, a 10-piece horn band built for one thing – bringing the party to life. Their setlist is packed with horn-driven classic rock, Motown, funk, and dance-floor favorites, sure to please all ages. Closing out the weekend as usual will be Texas Unlimited, who know just what that “last shift” of partygoers needs.
“Sunday is a great day for a family or friend group to enjoy together. You can start by watching the parade from your favorite spot, then head to the park for lunch. Afterwards you can spend the afternoon at the Carnival, shopping at the vendors, catching up with everyone, all while listening to your favorite tunes, taking a spin on the dance floor as well,” says Michalke.
Thursday night provides music, rodeo, and family options, with no admission charge. The carnival and video game trailer will be open, and the rodeo slack is free to watch that evening. Trent Cowie will perform on stage from 8 to 10 p.m., and food and drinks will be available.
Rodeo has been a part of the Festival for over 30 years. The CPRA/UPRA Rodeo takes place on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30, featuring bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, breakaway, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team. roping, and tie down. Mutton bustin’ will take place both nights, along with the 2nd annual Fayette County Calf Scramble.
For the younger patrons, the Festival will also provide a small carnival and video game trailer. “Although we are limited in carnival options due to our size and the time of year, we were able to find an available carnival that works for us, along with a new attraction-a video game trailer,” says Festival President Scott Gresham. Both activities will be inside the Festival grounds, so anyone aged 13 & up who attends on Friday night or on Saturday after 5 p.m. will have to purchase a Festival ticket to enter the park and then access the carnival or video game trailer.
Also for the little ones, the annual tricycle races and kiddie parade are free to enter and have become almost a rite of passage for Schulenburg folks. These events are fun to watch even if you’re too old to participate.
The east side of Wolters Park is home to all the weekend cook-offs, including both IBCA and CASI sanctioned BBQ and chili contests, as well as local competition for BBQ, chili, beans, bloody Mary, and salsa. A kids’ cook-off has been added in recent years as well. Reagan Hicks will be providing music in the cookoff area on Saturday afternoon. Teams can still sign up for any of the competitions.
The Sunday morning Festival parade is always a great experience, with dozens of entries streaming through downtown Schulenburg. There will be floats from area towns, comical entries, class reunions, patriotic and music entries, fire trucks, interesting vehicles, and more.
Plenty of other opportunities for fun and games are available. Patrons can try to dunk a cheerleader, or check out the annual Young Farmers Egg Toss and Cow Chip Throwing contests. Dozens of vendors will be set up near the Pavilion for shopping. Class reunions will be going on under the Pavilion on Saturday afternoon for several Schulenburg and Bishop Forest High School classes. Plus there are several sports contests over the weekend, including cornhole, softball, golf, and basketball, and the Navidad Valley Cattlewomen Fun Run. Gate admission for all activities is $20 for Friday night, and $30 on Saturday evening after 5 p.m. Admission on Thursday and Sunday is free, and there is no charge to enter the park before 5 p.m. on Saturday. Also, there is no admission charge for children 12 and under at any time.
Detailed information, including entry forms, can be found on the Festival website: www.schulenburgfestival.org.
Money raised at the Festival goes into the community as improvements, local organization donations, and scholarships.